Go to Index GUIDE TO THE MOSSES OF CENTRAL FLORIDA WITH AN INTERACTIVE KEY by Frederick B. Essig University of South Florida Herbarium Institute for Systematic Botany [Revised March 4, 2020] This guide has been prepared as an adjunct to the Atlas of Florida Plants. It includes an interactive key and illustrated species profile pages. The guide presently focuses on the common mosses of central Florida and includes 59 species, or for some entries just a genus. The guide is a work in progress, with the intention to gradually expand it to include less common species, as well as to expand the area of coverage from Central Florida to the entire state. It will therefore be periodically updated. The guide also includes an index, which includes all species reported as occurring in Florida, with the species included in the key set in bold face and larger type. The index also serves as a list of photo credits for the species included in the species profile pages. The key is in pdf format, with active links to move through the key and to the species profile pages. In the profile pages and the index, there are links to the appropriate pages in the Atlas. To make the guide as broadly useful as possible, simple botanical and/or English terminology has been used, rather than the specialized bryophyte terminology of technical keys. Corrections and suggestions will be greatly appreciated, and should be sent to Fred Essig at [email protected]. 1 Go to Index Interactive Key 1. Plants with distinct upright or leaning, often trunk‐like, stems with multiple leafy side shoots or clusters of compact, bud-like shoots at the tip (Sphagnum, Climacium) p. 2 2. Plants with leafy shoots +/-unbranched or branching at the base or from older non-green parts of the system, shoots perpendicular to the growing surface or leaning and parallel with one another at least when fresh; spore capsules arising from the tips of the leafy shoots or from specialized short shoots (acrocarpus) p. 4 3. Plants with leafy shoots spreading and branching parallel with the growing surface or extending outward or hanging from tree trunks and branches; spore capsules mostly arising along the sides of the leafy shoots (pleurocarpous) p. 15 2 [Leafy shoots with upright, trunk‐like stem and many leafy side shoots] (from p. 1) 1. Main shoots with clusters of compact, bud‐ like shoots at the top, and drooping side shoots below; leaves with narrow bands of photosynthetic cells surrounding large, banded water‐storage cells, sporangia spherical (Sphagnum) p. 3 2. Main shoot with leafy side branches stiff, horizontal or angling upward; photosynthetic tissue simple, not surrounding water- storage cells; spore capsules brown, narrow-cylindrical …..Climacium americanum 3 [The genus Sphagnum] (from p. 2) Notes: The leaves of Sphagnum species have a unique anatomy, dominated by large water‐storage cells, reinforced by multiple thin bands of cellulose. The photosynthetic cells appear as narrow, green bands between the water storage cells The following two species are common in central Florida. A number of others occur in the state, mostly further north, but some are reported as far south as Highlands County. Further study of the species found in central Florida is needed. 1. Upright shoots elongate, loose, bright green, occurring in thick stands or bogs on flat, wet meadows or seeps .… Sphagnum recurvum 2. Shoots compact, crowded, grayish, occurring on dry sandy soil in shady woods …. Sphagnum strictum 4 [Leafy shoots unbranched, growing upright or perpendicular to growing surface] (from p. 1) (also from p. 15) 1. Shoots distinctly flattened, resembling a pinnately compound leaf a. Leaves double, with second small leaf attached to the base of each main leaf, pointed at end; spore capsules arising from the tips of the shoots …. Fissidens spp. b.Leaves simple, ribbon‐like, rounded at tip; spore capsules nestled among leaves, without elongate stalks i. Leaves flat ....Neckeropsis disticha ii. Leaves crisped or rumpled .…Neckeropsis undulata (return to p. 15 if you came from there) 2. Shoots not distinctly flattened; leaves spirally arranged or crowded at the tip into a rosette p. 5 5 [Leaves spirally arranged or in a rosette] (from p. 4) 1. Leafy shoots elongate, stems 3 – 10 cm long or more with many evenly spaced green leaves a. Found on soil in exposed places . p. 6 b. Found on tree bases, roots, adjacent soil, logs or wet rocks p. 7 c. Found on limestone rocks that are often dry; leaves strongly curled or twisted when dry; spore capsule with long, spirally wound teeth around opening ...Barbula indica 2. Leafy shoots with green portions compact, less than 3 cm high; leaves evenly spaced or crowded near the tip of a short stem p. 8 6 [Growing on soil] (from p. 5) 1. Upper leaf surface rough or spongy, with up to 20 blades or ribbons of tissue running lengthwise, obscuring the view of the leaf cells and midrib beneath; leaf cells not papillose …. Polytrichum commune 2. Leaf surface smooth, transparent; leaf cells papillose a. Leafy shoots frequently with small, scale‐like, vegetative reproductive units at tips of whiplike extensions; colonies loose, open; on wet, organic soil …. Aulacomnium palustre b. Leafy shoots without small scale‐like reproductive units; on wet to dry soil i. Leaves up to 4.5 mm long; colonies forming dense, deep cushions with green leaves only at the tips and many dead leaves below; rarely producing spore capsules .…Dicranum condensatum ii. Leaves up to 2.5 mm long; colonies loose, shoots mostly green....Archidium spp. 7 [Growing mostly on tree bases, logs or wet rocks] (from p. 5) 1. Leafy shoots to 6 or more cm long; midrib thick, conspicuous a. Leaves 6-8 mm long, with large, multicellular teeth on margins and midrib, rolled inward and loosely twisted around stem when dry; on tree bases and logs .... Pyrrhobryum spiniforme b. Leaves 1.4-1.6 mm long, lacking teeth, flat and twisted closely around stem when dry; on logs, tree trunks and branches ... Schlotheimia rugifolia 2. Leafy shoots mostly less than 6 cm long; leaf margins with small, simple teeth or smooth; midrib present but weak a. Leaf margins with tiny, simple teeth; midrib faint, but extending into a narrow point at the tip; leaf cells elongate‐rectangular, upper ends of cells extended into papillae; spore capsules spherical; on constantly wet rocks or banks .... Philonotis longiseta b. Leaf margins smooth; midrib weak, not extending to tip, leaf tip rounded; leaf cells tiny, roundish, papillose throughout; spore capsules long‐ovate; found on limestone and tree bark . Anomodon minor 8 [Green portion of leafy shoots compact, less than 3 cm high] (from p. 5) 1. Found mostly on soil, mudflats p. 9 2. Found mostly on tree trunks, bases, roots, or logs p.13 3. Found on limestone rocks that are dry much of the time; spore capsule with long, spirally wound teeth around opening p. 14 9 [Leafy shoots less than 3 cm high, found on soil or mudflats] (from p. 8) 1. Leaves less than 4 mm long p. 10 2. Leaves 4‐8 mm long a. Leaves thin, transparent; cells and midrib fully visible under light microscope i. Leaves grayish or brownish‐green, stiff, 4‐7 mm long; leaf tufts sometimes elevated on scaly stalks …. Campylopus surinamensis ii. Leaves light green, flexible, grass‐like, up to 7 mm long on very short stem …. Ditrichum pallidum b. Leaves rough or spongy on the upper surface due to multiple ribbons or blades of tissue running the length of the leaf, which obscure most of the view of the underlying cells and midrib …. Atrichum angustatum 10 [Leaves less than 4 mm long; on soil or mudflats] (from p. 9) 1. Leafy shoots virtually stemless, leaves crowded into a rosette of uniform height, evenly spaced in flat colonies p. 12 2. Leafy shoots elongate, with leaves arranged evenly along the stem or more crowded near the tip of the stem a. Leaves ovate and broadly pointed, with midrib reaching the tip, or projecting beyond it as a sharp, needle‐like awn; leaf cells large, rectangular to elongate‐polygonal, with many distinct chloroplasts; stalks of spore capsules reddish or brownish, nodding by a bend in the stalk (Family Bryaceae) p. 11 b. Leaves tapering gradually to a narrow tip which is filled with the very thick midrib; leaf cells narrow, elongate; stalks of spore capsules yellowish, capsules upright or slightly bent to the side …..Dicranella spp. 11 [Family Bryaceae] (from p. 10) 1. Colonies forming permanent, compact mounds on dry substrates a. Colonies forming grayish‐green mounds 2‐10 mm high; leaves scale‐like, pressed to the stem; on dry, sandy soil …. Bryum argenteum b. Colonies forming dense, dark‐green mounds 10‐20 mm high; leaves spreading; leaf with midrib extending into a sharp, needle‐like awn; on rocks, concrete, or asphalt… Brachymenium macrocarpum 2. Colonies of loose, ephemeral green shoots on wet soil a. Leaves evenly spaced along the stem; in moist shady soil Gemmabryum apiculatum b. Leaves becoming crowded, rosette‐like, toward the tip; often around pond edges …. Rosulabryum pseudocapillare 12 [Leafy shoots virtually stemless, of uniform height, evenly spaced in flat colonies] (from p. 10) 1. Leaves broad, ovate, at least in lower part, not distinctly grooved on the upper surface; leaf cells hexagonal to rectangular, not papillose a. Leaves 2‐3 mm long; leaf cells large, hexagonal to rectangular, with thin cell walls; midrib reaching tip of leaf; Spore capsules bent to the side; on sterile, disturbed, or burned‐over soil .... Funaria flavicans b. Leaves ovate, concave, up to 2 mm long, toothed at tip; leaf cells rectangular; midrib often not quite reaching the tip of the leaf; spore capsules upright; on wet, disturbed soil ….